The former Robert Janker Clinic in Bonn is breaking new ground – in the truest sense of the word. The clinic, which is one of the most important and modern clinics for radiotherapy, diagnostic and interventional radiology and neuroradiology, radiosurgery and palliative medicine in Germany, is currently undergoing a major transformation process and has also given itself a new name in the process. It is now called the WEGE Clinic and the associated medical care center is called WEGE MVZ. The name says it all, because WEGE stands for: Knowing. Empathetic. Together. Committed.
“It is precisely these values and principles that make the difference in our daily dealings with patients. We are highly innovative and at the same time deeply human. With our new name, we are now deliberately highlighting this and showing more than ever that as a specialist clinic for the treatment of tumor diseases, we clearly stand out from other clinics, especially larger ones. This applies not only to our unique treatment methods, but also to the empathetic and trustworthy way in which we look after our patients individually,” says Prof. Pinkawa, Medical Director of the WEGE Clinic and Head Physician of the Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology.
Long-term support for patients
Patients at the WEGE Clinic should benefit above all from interdisciplinary, integrative and individually tailored therapy concepts, from the high level of specialist expertise and the smooth logistics of short distances. The majority of patients with tumors can be cured by radiotherapy alone or in combination with other treatment methods such as surgery or so-called systemic therapy. Radiotherapy at the WEGE Clinic can last for several weeks and, depending on the disease, can sometimes only involve a single radiotherapy session.
Patients with metastatic tumors often cannot be cured, so they are often treated for many years. “We specifically focus on the long-term support of patients by the same therapist. This is extremely important, as this trusting relationship can significantly increase life expectancy and, above all, quality of life. At the same time, side effects can be prevented or reduced and hospital stays shortened accordingly,” says Pinkawa. Together, many patients can be relieved of the horror of cancer and a threatening-sounding diagnosis can be transformed into a chronic illness.
Advocates for patients
“Regardless of the state-of-the-art technology we use: It is important for us therapists to be close to the patient’s perspective. We see ourselves as advocates for our patients. We explain even complicated issues to them as those directly affected, but also to their relatives, in an understandable way and involve them in our decisions. This is essential in order to preserve patient autonomy and it has now been proven that cancer treatments can be made more effective in this way,” adds Prof. Dr. med. Attila Kovács, Chief Physician at the Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology.
“This holistic approach requires the strengthening of the specialist area of palliative medicine, which we have now significantly upgraded with Dr. Henning Cuhls as a further head physician. In our outpatient MVZ, we have Prof. Dr. med. Jan Boström and PD Dr. med. Azize Boström, further internationally highly esteemed experts in our ranks,” says Pinkawa. With Prof. Pinkawa, Prof. Attila Kovács (Chief Physician of the Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology) and Dr. Henning Cuhls, who has headed the department for patients with incurable diseases with limited life expectancy since July, the WEGE Clinic now has three chief physicians.
Unique concept
The WEGE Clinic has a special, unique status in the German healthcare system. Not only is it the largest specialist clinic for radiotherapy and radiation oncology in Germany, but it is also one of the very few clinics in the world where tumor diseases can also be treated using minimally invasive interventional radiology procedures. The fact that the WEGE Clinic can offer a wide range of procedures for the treatment of tumor diseases such as radiotherapy, interventional radiology and radiosurgery not only on an inpatient basis but also on an outpatient basis via the WEGE MVZ is also completely unique.
Lighthouse project in the healthcare sector
In order to underpin and expand this position as a leading specialist clinic for the treatment of tumor diseases, the clinic’s new owner (since January 2023), the international Mercurius Health Group, is investing up to 20 million euros in the medium term and equipping the WEGE Clinic with state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic oncology solutions. The investment and transformation process in Bonn is regarded as a flagship project in the European healthcare sector. The Mercurius Health Group is one of the European market leaders in the development, operation and support of hospitals and cancer centers.
Globally unique radiotherapy
A treatment method that can be used in the field of radiotherapy thanks to the latest new investments at the WEGE Clinic is exceptional. Prof. Dr. Pinkawa and his team in Radiation Oncology and Radiosurgery can rely on the combination of the Brainlab ExacTrac Dynamic 2.0 and the Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator for radiotherapy. “Here we achieve even better precision than before to protect patients during radiation treatment, as the exact positioning of the beams and patient monitoring can be carried out with sub-millimeter precision. This protects healthy lung tissue and the heart in the chest, the bowel and bladder in prostate treatments and, of course, vital functional areas in the brain when irradiating brain tumors,” explains Pinkawa. Only three clinics in Germany have this innovative solution.
Unique selling point in radiology and neuroradiology
The internationally renowned clinic for diagnostic and interventional radiology and neuroradiology, built up by head physician Prof. Dr. med. Attila Kovács, has also received a significant technology upgrade. “We are the very first clinic in Germany to combine the imaging power of a high-end spectral computer tomograph with stereotactic navigation for the optimization of minimally invasive therapies in oncology. This is a quantum leap in interventional radiology,” says Prof. Dr. med. Kovács, who combines a Philips CT 7500 with a CAS-One IR. This gives the WEGE Clinic an absolutely unique selling point in radiology and neuroradiology – and can strengthen its reputation as an international center of excellence and training center for minimally invasive interventional therapies. “Thanks to the advantages of integrative radiology, we can perform keyhole interventions, which are particularly gentle on patients, in addition to diagnostics from a single source and without waiting times. The aim of all minimally invasive therapy concepts is to offer our patients maximum therapeutic effectiveness through precise navigation while at the same time protecting healthy tissue as much as possible.
This results in the unique advantage of minimally invasive therapies that hospital stays can be kept as short as possible so that patients can enjoy ‘normality’ in their familiar social environment for as long as possible. This in turn ensures the best possible quality of life,” says Prof. Dr. med Kovács.
In demand throughout Germany
With its outstanding professional expertise, a renewed management team and the empathetic, appreciative care concept, the WEGE-Klinik is successful throughout Germany, according to PD Dr. med Azize Boström, who has also been Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the clinic since September in addition to her work at the MVZ: “We are attracting more and more patients from outside the region because they like our concept very much and people simply feel comfortable with us. We offer them unique treatment methods from high-ranking and internationally recognized specialists in a familiar environment. The high recommendation rate shows that we are on the right track. With our new image and new name, we are now taking another important step forward.”
Role model for other clinics
This approach should set a precedent. “Using the WEGE Clinic as an example, we want to show how modern clinic concepts can be implemented in the field of cancer treatment, especially in Germany. Despite all the professional and technical requirements, this also requires open, human interaction between staff and patients. We all know how important individual professional care is for successful treatment,” says Nicolas Ploquin, CEO of Mercurius Health Group.
The WEGE clinic in Bonn will therefore also serve as a training facility to share technical and clinical know-how and offer consulting services to help other hospitals make the best use of technology to provide better care.
Education and training
The WEGE Clinic wants to actively promote the training and further education of specialists and doctors in private practice in the region. At the end of August, the clinic organized an interdisciplinary symposium in the “Innovative oncology and pain therapy” series entitled “Multimodal tumour control in oligometastatic carcinoma” under the scientific direction of Prof. Michael Pinkawa and Prof. Attila Kovács. From 13 to 15 March 2025, the WEGE Clinic in Bonn will be hosting the 11th Three-Country Brachytherapy Congress with international experts from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Possibly a separate box:
This is the philosophy behind the new name WEGE Klinik:
- Knowing
Medical care at the WEGE Clinic is based on excellent specialist knowledge and the valuable wealth of experience gained from years of research and treatment. This is the only way to achieve therapies with the best prospects of recovery and the precision and safety of the necessary procedures. “You are always in the very best hands with our experts,” is the clinic’s approach.
- Empathic
People, with their individual character and their physical and psychological circumstances, are at the heart of everything the WEGE Clinic does. With the utmost care and humanity, the WEGE team aims to look after the well-being of each individual and accompany them both medically and emotionally through their time in our clinic and often beyond.
- Together
When you combine your strengths, you can achieve great things. The experts at the WEGE Clinic specialize in different areas. For patients, this means that they can rely on interdisciplinary expertise. Thanks to the short communication channels and direct exchange, the specialists at the WEGE Clinic are able to find quick, well-founded solutions even for complex issues.
- Committed
The contact persons at the WEGE-Klinik are aware of their responsibility towards all those involved and are doing everything they can to take healthcare in the region to a new level. Because only if you act with passion and care in accordance with the latest medical knowledge can you meet your own and your patients’ requirements at all times.
About the WEGE-Klinik and the WEGE MVZ
The WEGE-Klinik was founded in 1937 by radiologist Robert Janker as the Robert Janker Clinic and has developed into one of the leading specialist clinics for the treatment of tumor diseases. The clinic in Bonn’s Dottendorf district is one of the largest radiotherapy clinics in Germany. The WEGE-Klinik offers inpatient and outpatient care in the fields of radiotherapy and radiooncology, radiosurgery, interventional and diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology as well as palliative medicine. Innovative procedures such as embolization of prostate and liver diseases, CT-navigated fusion biopsies, stereotactic treatments of the brain, lungs, prostate and breast as well as brachytherapy of the prostate and gynaecological tumours are important focal points at the WEGE Clinic. From 1998 to 2023, the clinic was part of the MediClin AG group of clinics.
Together with the new owner Mercurius Health (since January 2023), the strategic realignment and a transformation process were initiated, which also led to a new brand identity and the new name WEGE Klinik. WEGE stands for: Knowing. Empathetic. Together. Committed. The WEGE Clinic has 40 beds. Outpatient care is provided by the Medical Care Center for Radiotherapy and Neurosurgery, WEGE MVZ for short.
About the Mercurius Health Group
Mercurius Health Group is one of Europe’s leading providers of advanced oncology solutions, specializing in radiotherapy and nuclear medicine for hospitals and cancer centers. Mercurius Health develops, operates and supports centers in over 15 locations and is currently represented in Germany, Spain, Portugal and the UK. The Mercurius Health Group offers its services throughout Europe.
With more than 35 years of experience, the highly specialized team has tremendous expertise in state-of-the-art radiotherapy and nuclear medicine equipment and procedures, as well as in the construction and management of oncology facilities. Mercurius Health focuses on strategic partnerships with healthcare facilities to provide state-of-the-art treatments to their oncology patients. The solutions include the management of the entire project to develop new services or install new equipment, from planning, selection and procurement of equipment to project implementation, operation and financing.
The Mercurius Health Group operates its own centers such as the WEGE-Klinik (formerly Robert Janker Klinik), a renowned oncology hospital in Bonn, and CADPET, a nuclear medicine network in Spain. This means that the clinical, technical and management teams are always up to date and benefit from ongoing improvements in their projects.
Further information:
WEGE Clinic
Villenstraße 8 – 53129 Bonn – Phone +49 (0) 228 53060
www.wegeklinik.com – info@wegeklinik.com
www.wegemvz.com – info@wegemvz.com
Contact for the press WEGE Clinic & Mercurius Health Group:
Laura Terzagui, Group Marketing & Communications Director
laura.terzagui@mercuriushealth.com – www.mercuriushealth.com
Agency contact:
Jensen media GmbH, Hemmerlestraße 4, 87700 Memmingen
Phone +49 (0) 833199188-0
redaktion@jensen-media.de – www.jensen-media.de
Contact person: Ingo Jensen